Chris Packham, along with other prominent figures such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Dale Vince, has condemned the long jail terms handed to Just Stop Oil protesters for planning protests on the M25. Five activists were sentenced to up to five years, sparking outrage over the erosion of human rights and freedom of speech. Packham called for a meeting with the attorney general for England and Wales to address what he called a “grotesque miscarriage of justice.”
Fearnley-Whittingstall criticized the legislation under which the activists were sentenced, stating that it was designed to protect fossil fuel companies and suppress peaceful protest. Dale Vince, who has switched from financing Just Stop Oil to becoming one of Labour’s biggest donors, also called for the attorney general to intervene, labeling the sentencing a travesty of justice.
Labour MP Clive Lewis supported Packham’s call for the attorney general to act urgently, emphasizing the need to overturn the laws allowing such harsh sentences. Bill McGuire, an expert in geophysical and climate hazards, denounced the trial and verdict as a farce, criticizing the assault on free speech.
The sentencing has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for action to address what many see as an attack on fundamental rights. The activists, who were peacefully protesting climate change, are now facing lengthy jail terms, prompting concerns about the future of activism and free speech in the UK.
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